Tag: Bryan Herta

Herta Livery Stokes the Throwback Flames Again

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Of the many attempts Indycar teams have made at throwback liveries, today’s unveiling of Colton Herta’s livery for Laguna Seca is the best I have seen. The scheme reflects the livery hat his father Bryan used in 1998 when he won one his two races at the historic track. Colton also has won twice at Laguna Seca.

As soon as the video released this morning, talk of a throwback race heated up.

Colton Herta’s livery for the season finale.
Bryan Herta on his way to victory at Laguna Seca

Why does this particular tribute livery strike such a chord with fans? I think it’s the faithfulness of the design. The chevrons in place of the Shell logo, which Andretti terams can’t use, is a nice touch which visually gives the illusion matching the original.

The A. J. Foyt livery in the Indianapolis 500 which J. R. Hildebrand drove a couple of years ago came as close to the original as I had seen before today. It is difficult to put a front engine roadster livery on a rear engine car. Now that there is a large inventory of classic rear engine cars, a throwback race is more possible.

I can think of no track better suited for this race than Milwaukee. A classic track deserves classic liveries. That is assuming the mile track returns to the schedule in 2024 or beyond. This afternoon Gateway offered their venue as host for a race with throwback liveries.

Several pieces would need to come together for such an event to happen. Current sponsors would have to be on board. What if a team used to have a competing brand as sponsor? Of course, a track would have to be willing to host the race, broadcast partners need to be okay with it, and we need 100% buy in from all teams.

I know Team Penske, Chip Ganassi Racing, and Andretti Autosport would have no problem coming up with vintage liveries just from their own past.

It would be great to see a Bowes Seal fast or Noc-Out Hose Clamp car. maybe that’s going a bit too far back.

A Great Day for Two Good Guys

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It’s only Wednesday and the emotions in the Indycar family have been riding a roller coaster since Sunday. The joy of Pato o’Ward’s victory was tempered with the news of Bobby Unser’s death. But yesterday, two of the nicest guys in the paddock had great days. Robert Wickens drove a car at speed for the first time since his horrific crash at Pocono in 2018. Stefan Wilson confirmed he has a ride for the Indianapolis 500.

Herta Expects to Contend Again; Hopes Father Knows Best

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Photo: Chris Owens, Indycar

No one on the Indycar Content day zoom conference was surprised to hear Colton Herta make his intentions to be in position to win the series championship this year.

“I wouldn’t be in INDYCAR if I didn’t have the confidence in myself to perform. Yes, I believe I can. I think we showed it last year of what could have been. If I didn’t have that slip up at Iowa, mess that up for us, we could have been really good in the championship hunt going into the last round,” he responded when asked if he could win the championship this season.

Herta exuded his usual confidence during the conference. He seemed more focused and calmer than he has the last two years. . He knows he has the driving talent to win and the team to help him get there. What does he need to go from third to first in the title chase?

“… cutting out the mistakes, changing kind of those top fives, fourth and fifth places that we had last year, we had a bunch of them, into podiums, and some of those podiums we had into wins. We need to win a little bit more and we need a little bit more podiums, a tiny bit more consistency to really make a true championship run.”

One thing that will change on Herta’s team will be his race strategist. Bryan Herta, Colton’s father, will be in his ear during races. The elder Herta is one of the best strategists in the paddock. He managed fuel strategy for Alexander Rossi in the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. Fathers as their son’s strategist has not worked well in the past. Michael Andretti was Marco’s strategist, which didn’t pan out. Bobby Rahal was on the radio for Graham one year. That was not a good situation Why will this arrangement work out better than the previous ones?

Colton explained, “I think you can tell by now that we’re both pretty mellow. We don’t get excited and we don’t get upset or very sad. We stay pretty even. Our emotions don’t really get the better of us. I think in that aspect, I think the other personalities will get heated at each other, where I don’t think it would happen with us because of how mellow we are.”

Winning more races and eliminating mistakes are what Herta believes will bring him the championship. He hopes he can bring his dad along for the ride to the top.